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Glass 75 (update)

One of the most notable events of last season was Eighth Blackbird's Tune-In festival at the Park Avenue Armory. The 2012 edition has been announced: it will center on Philip Glass, who celebrates his 75th birthday on January 31. Glass and friends will take over the Armory from Feb. 23 to Feb. 26. The first concert will present a new Bill Frisell piece based on Allen Ginsberg's Kaddish, with Glass and others performing; the second will involve Patti Smith and her band; the third will consist of Glass's monumental Music in Twelve Parts; and the final concert will bring the complete version of Glass's Another Look at Harmony, for organ and one hundred voices. Some other Glass birthday events on the horizon: the Days and Nights Festival in Carmel, California (Aug.-Sept.); the Double Timpani Concerto at the Cincinnati Symphony (Sept. 30 - Oct. 1); the New York Philharmonic's inaugural adventure in the world of Glass (Koyaanisqatsi, Nov. 2-3); the Met revival of Satyagraha (Nov. 4 - Dec. 1); the world premiere of the Ninth Symphony in Linz (Jan. 1); the American premiere of the Ninth at Glass's Carnegie birthday bash; another Cincinnati event, the world premiere of the Second Cello Concerto (March 30-31); the L.A. premiere of the Ninth with John Adams conducting (April 5-7); and, of course, the worldwide tour of Einstein on the Beach. The composer is now at work on two operas, The Lost and The Perfect American. He may be winning round 2 of the Minimalist Elder Statesman birthday battle with Steve Reich.